BY
Geoy Kai Lin

Deputy Editor

Hype Issue #65

Published on

June 13,

2025

Geoy Kai Lin explores how people manage chronic conditions day-to-day, and how it reshapes their perspectives on life.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived with excessive sweating on my hands and feet. From the moment I wake up, beads of sweat begin forming on my palms, dripping from my fingertips and sometimes pooling on the floor. The situation worsens when I’m out in Singapore’s humid climate. Constantly wiping my clammy hands on my clothes offers little relief–only leaving dark, damp stains that draw unwanted attention and create awkward moments, especially during handshakes or any form of physical contact.

My condition, known as hyperhidrosis, runs in the family. It’s caused by faulty nerve signals that overstimulate the eccrine sweat glands. There’s no definitive cure–only temporary treatments, or an invasive surgery to sever the nerves responsible for the overactivity.

Living with a chronic condition can be both uncomfortable and isolating. But I’m not alone. According to the National Library of Medicine, one in three adults worldwide lives with multiple chronic conditions. Closer to home, 1 per cent of young adults in Singapore aged 18 to 35 live with at least one chronic illness.

To better understand what it means to navigate daily life with a chronic condition, I spoke to two youths living with persistent medical issues.

As of 2022, the most prevalent chronic conditions in Singapore are hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Photo taken from ATA Medical.

Noah Ihsan, 16, a secondary 4 student of St Patrick’s School, recalled his earliest memory of experiencing eczema. “It’s still quite vivid…I was taking a shower–my mom was helping me–and I felt my skin burning. I didn’t understand why at the time because I was still young, but it hurt so much. I was crying, probably because the soap or water was stinging the wounds on my arms and legs.”

Destiny Soh, 19, a recent graduate of St Andrew’s Junior College, shared similar feelings of confusion before being diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. She had always assumed that constant fatigue was normal. “I found myself sleeping in class and feeling more exhausted than others, especially after Physical Education (PE),” she said. “It became so common that my table partners were used to seeing me doze off.”

“Most People Aren’t Born With A Skin Condition Like Mine”

Noah mused that the real challenge of living with eczema is the persistent worry that niggles at the back of his mind. From waking up to unexpected rashes caused by scratching in his sleep, to needing to moisturise before school to prevent his skin from drying out, and even worrying about flare-ups caused by sweating while playing football with friends–the condition demands constant vigilance.

“It’s not just physical,” he said. “It’s a mental challenge…having to control your [daily] actions, the things you eat, the work you do, [and] your mental health. Everything plays a part in [triggering eczema].”

Eczema flare-ups can cause inflamed reddish-brown or gray patches on the skin, particularly on the hands, feet, chest, neck, and inside bends of elbows and knees. Photo taken from WebMD.

Receiving judgemental looks from others due to the scars and scabs on his arms is something Noah has learnt to brush aside, choosing not to feel self-conscious. He sees it as a temporary phase, just a matter of time before his body heals from a flare-up.

Still, some people don’t make it easy. He recalled a classmate who made a snide remark about his appearance. “He told me he didn’t like how I looked, and I didn’t say anything. I just walked [away],” Noah said. “There’s no point explaining myself to someone like that. What he said might even be true–but I don’t care what people who don’t like me think about me.”

Thankfully, most people around him have been supportive and understanding of his skin condition, especially his mother. “She always brings me to the doctor when she notices my skin getting worse, and she pays for the expensive medication [such as moisturisers and steroid creams]…so I owe everything to her.”

“I Have Fewer Red Blood Cells Than The Average Person”

For Destiny, living with iron deficiency anemia means having to limit physical activity and carefully monitor her diet. “It’s really easy for my blood count to drop,” she explained. “Something as simple as going to school can make my vision blur and leave me feeling like I’m about to faint. [It comes down to] things most people wouldn’t think twice about, like what you eat.”

To manage her condition, she takes iron supplements and eats iron-rich foods like spinach and red meat. On the flip side, she has to avoid caffeine, which can thin the blood. “But sometimes, I really do need coffee,” she wistfully admitted. “I just have to limit myself, because I don’t want to risk fainting.”

A low blood count also leaves Destiny feeling constantly drained. She often has to sit out of PE lessons, and her stamina for physical tests like NAPFA is noticeably affected. The fatigue doesn’t stop there–it also impacts her focus in class. She recalled feeling her body shutting down from exhaustion. “I’d [fall] asleep unconsciously, and miss out on a lot of things that I had to go home and catch up [on].”

Unfortunately, Destiny’s tendency to fall asleep during lessons often leaves a negative impression on her teachers. She shared that it’s frequently misunderstood as poor time management, with some teachers pulling her aside to ask if she had stayed up too late the night before, unaware of her medical condition. Explaining herself isn’t always easy, as she’s hesitant to be perceived differently. Even when she does open up, the condition is often forgotten, and the same assumptions resurface.

While not everyone may fully understand her condition, Destiny’s family and friends are a great source of support. Her mother ensures she attends regular medical checkups and helps restock her iron supplements when they run low. At school, her friends look out for her and are careful not to involve her in physically demanding activities. “They know I have this condition and that I might feel unwell at any time…so they take care of me,” Destiny shared.

“You’re Stronger Than Your Symptoms”

Chronic conditions don’t just take a toll on the body–they can deeply affect a person’s self-esteem and mental health. It’s difficult not to compare ourselves with healthier peers who don’t have to constantly worry about their bodies “acting up”. Over time, these subconscious comparisons can foster resentment, frustration, and negative emotions that significantly impact one’s mental well-being.

A journal article published in Springer Open reports that individuals with chronic illnesses face significantly higher rates of psychological distress, with stress, anxiety, and depression affecting 68.7 per cent, 51.1 per cent, and 58.8 per cent of patients respectively. These figures underscore the heightened mental health vulnerability faced by those living with ongoing medical challenges.

Living with chronic medical conditions can lead to low mood, feelings of isolation, and social withdrawal. Photos taken from Reddit, edited by Geoy Kai Lin.

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Therefore, it is critical to cultivate a healthy and accepting relationship with our own skin, both literally and metaphorically. For Noah, his skin condition became a source of inner strength. He shared that it helped him become more confident in his identity, as it naturally filtered out superficial relationships and drew in people who valued him beyond appearances. Forming connections with such genuine individuals, he added, has been deeply meaningful, as they are the ones who have continued to offer true support throughout his life journey.

Similarly, Destiny believes her condition has shaped her character for the better, particularly by nurturing empathy. Living with a chronic illness has made her more understanding toward others navigating their own challenges. Recognising how others persevere despite their limitations has helped her relate to them on a deeper level. In fact, she expressed gratitude for her condition, as it has given her a greater sense of compassion.

As Noah wisely shared, “The state of your mind will be the state of your body.” His reminder is a powerful one–no matter how isolating a condition might feel, we are never truly alone. There will always be people, be they  family or friends, who’re willing to stand by you.

Finally, I’ll leave you with this: You only have one body, so treat it with kindness, respect, and love. Living with a chronic condition doesn’t mean life has to be any less meaningful. It simply means learning to embrace your limits while still finding joy and fulfilment on your own terms.